The Voice Top 5 Results Recap: Did the Right Three Acts Make the Season 4 Finale? [Updated]

Usher and Shakira arrived at The Voice‘s Top 5 results night wearing black. Was it foreshadowing that their Season 4 journies were about to take a turn for the funereal?

After all, the neophyte coaches’ last respective contestants — Michelle Chamuel and Sasha Allen — were the only two acts who didn’t crack the iTunes Top 10 singles based on their Monday-night performances and thus didn’t see their iTunes votes multiplied by 10.

Oh sure, you can’t determine who’s going home without factoring in phone and online votes, but iTunes has been a pretty solid tool that’s made Season 4 results shows as predictable as a Kardashian’s response to the flash of a photographer’s bulb.

But, of course, no results show can extend a full hour based solely on an announcement that can be spat out in 10 seconds. And so we were treated to a rare cavalcade of performances from Voice finalists of the past — Tony Lucca, Nicholas David and Terry McDermott (but sadly, not Amanda Brown) — as well as Fall Out Boy and a chopped-up Top 5 group rendition of a Poison power ballad. Let’s pause for a moment to cook up some mini reviews:

Fall Out Boy (featuring Michelle Chamuel), “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark” | A reasonably solid performance from the emo rock band, though I wish they’d given Michelle a solo verse — or even a freakin’ solo line — so we could’ve actually heard her dulcet tones. (Girlfriend’s efforts on the “I’m on fire!” refrain did provide a vocal upgrade, though. Like Usher so hyperbolically put it, “she is medicine for our country, for our world.”)

Nicholas David, “Say Goodbye” |Once I got past the “I would breathe for you” line — yikes! I wouldn’t want someone stealing that function from me! — I definitely began to dig the Season 3 finalist’s subtle folk groove. Yeah, the lack of beard grooming still gives me the willies, but that’s just my own personal neuroses coming into play, so pay them no mind!

Tony Lucca, “Never Gonna Let You Go” | The Season 2 runner-up certainly sang with enthusiasm, but his acoustic rock jam felt like it washed up on the shore behind the Mumford and Sons wave. I just can’t see “Never Gonna Let You Go” catapulting him to the heights of his former Mousketeer cohorts. Here’s hoping he’s got catchier material on that forthcoming EP of his.

Top 5 Finalists, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” |Argh…the arrangement cut the verses into tiny individual ribbons for each member of the Top 5, and that’s just not how a song’s supposed to be sung. That said, anyone else end the performance wishing Sasha Allen had chosen this Poison jam instead of “I Will Alwaya Love You” on Monday?

Terry McDermott’s “Pictures” | Hopefully, Season 3’s Scottish rocker made a vow not to cut his sideburns until his wife delivers their new baby in a few weeks. (I kid, I kid!) Dude is definitely keepin’ the classic rock sound alive though, and his voice remains as big and bell-clear as ever.

Yep, the Season of Blake Shelton and His Country Agenda continues. Dude has largely found a formula that works for his contestants and determinedly stuck to it — even as some observers (or at least me) have complained that it’s robbed the season of genuinely surprising, thrilling moments.

Michelle, meanwhile, the quirky, bespectacled alt-electro badass who’s tackled everything from Cyndi Lauper to Robyn to Bruno Mars to Taylor Swift, remains the last hurdle preventing a 1-2 finish for the goofy but extremely shrewd Oklahoman who sits the right side of the screen each week pointing to himself and playing the “I’m just the drunk who tries to stay out of their way” card. Could a country vote split give Michelle an edge heading into next Monday? And should I wait to hear the actual performances before I say “I sure hope so”?

And with that, let me turn things over to you. What did you think of Season 4 Top 5 results night? Did the right contestants get the boot? Which musical performance did you like best? Sound off in the comments, and for all my reality-related news, recaps, interviews and videos, follow me on Twitter @MichaelSlezakTV!

All this talk about wanting singers to sing all kinds of songs outside of the box. Well, that sounds good on paper but it makes them have no identity. Most people nowadays buy single songs on iTunes or MP3’s because they know that if they buy the whole cd that more then half the songs on the cd will not be songs they like. How many cd’s do you have in your collection where the only good songs on them are the 2-3 that were released as singles that you’re sick of already?? A great cd follows a flow in song choices. I had no idea what a cd by Amber, Judith, Sarah or Sasha would sound like because they just kept throwing out stuff hoping it would stick. Who do they appeal to? Same with Michelle. With The Swon Brothers and Danielle you know you’re getting a conisistant sound and they will have access to the best songwriters in Nashville. And the Swon’s, like Terry McDermott, already own a stage and are comfortable playing live.

Agree completely. Singing songs from all different genre is not a good idea. May make it entertaining to the viewers. But does not help the contestants. Pros like Sasha and Judith who are back up singers looking for stardom. Yes,, great Voice, that’s why they are back up singers. The stars needs the vocals for back ups and duets. Just because they have a great voice does not make them stars. Look at Jermaine Paul (Alicia Keys backup singer) yes, he’s so much in demand his latest twiiter: Love the old “Fresh Prince of Bel air” re runs. LMAO!! Backgound singers like Jermaine, Judith, and Sasha are just that background singers and nothing more. If they had the IT factor. They would be stars already with all the exposure and connections to the music biz. The real potential here to be a true star and successful recording artist is Danielle Bradbery. She’s 16 and it’s just the beginning for her. Judith and Sasha has been in the biz for a long time. The producers, and talent scouts just see them as back ups! Otherwise they would of been stars already. Judith could make it with an act like Lady Gaga or Kesha? Judith should of choose “Bad Romance”. Sasha I don’t see beyond. Maybe Broadway?

There are hundreds of people in the music/entertainment businness that are making a fair living as back-ups, openers and add-ons to some of the bigger names at State Fairs, Touring bookings and special events for major cities or themes. ………..even lower-place finishers in a top 10/12 can sometimes get a surprisingly high fee for a private party, if some rich folk take a liking to them, like Pia Toscano (reportedly) getting paid over $50,000 to do a private event. …………………………………………

Weep not for those who don’t win, they may be doing just fine.Just watch the show like any other bogus drama, and without the surpise eliminations, those who got robbed, those who snuck-in bat can’t sing a note ————- the show would be so dry and predictable that nobody would watch it.

AGE 16
HOMETOWN Cypress, Texas
BEST MOMENT Her version of Jessica Andrews’ “Who I Am” during Top 5 night showed how far she has come, delivering the sweet, age-appropriate country anthem with the power and style of a pro, even tugging at the heartstrings by singing to her folks in the audience.
STRENGTHS More than her solid, pretty voice, Danielle’s greatest asset is her unflappability, showing none of the nerves that would affect most teenage singers.
WEAKNESSES Her calm demeanor sometimes comes across as a little cold.
STRATEGY She needs to stay on the same track with Coach Blake. He has done a great job managing expectations for her, as well as training her to connect with every song.
CHANCES Clear favorite

———
MICHELLE CHAMUEL

AGE 26
HOMETOWN Amherst, Mass.
BEST MOMENT When she tackled Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble” on Top 6 night, with Tay’s blessing, Chamuel showed she can be current without sacrificing any of her vocal precision or passion.
STRENGTHS The most dynamic of the remaining singers, Chamuel’s voice has great power and control, useful for everything from ballads to rockers.
WEAKNESSES Her “It Gets Better” vibe is praiseworthy, but it drags after a while.
STRATEGY She (and Usher) should play up how she embodies “The Voice” ethic. Danielle will likely be a star, regardless of whether she wins the show or not, while Chamuel could really use the extra boost.
CHANCES The underdog ready to pounce if Danielle stumbles

————
THE SWON BROTHERS

AGE Zach, 28; Colton, 24
HOMETOWN Muskogee, Okla.
BEST MOMENT Their version of Loggins and Messina’s “Danny’s Song” on Top 5 night showed they can appeal to more than just hard-core country fans with their brotherly harmonies.
STRENGTHS In addition to being extraordinarily likable, the Swons have the harmonies to make any song sound unique.
WEAKNESSES At times, they get too tied up in the traditional country leanings of their coach, cutting them off from a larger audience.
STRATEGY After singing country classics more or less all season, they need to pick some more middle-of-the-road rock that suits their voices — The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac — to bring in the votes.
CHANCES The dark horse that may be peaking at the right time.

Danielle Bradbery is the new and upcoming Carrie Underwood 2.0…. A duet with Danielle and Justin Bieber would go double platinum…I’d be surprised if Usher doesn’t see this and try to arrange it…Michelle? A Vegas lounge act…The Swons? Killed themselves with choosing a falsetto piece..not macho Okie stuff…Watch the ITunes sales of Memphis and realize there’s a multiplier on the vote..Is there anyone who knows anything about the music industry who doesn’t know that Columbia Records wants her so bad for her first cut that they can taste it!!!